Business Whirl
The Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) recently presented its Chairman's Award to John A. (Jack) Drew, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Athens Regional Medical Center (ARMC). The presentation was made recently at GHA's Annual Summer Meeting held in Sandestin, Fla. The award is given each year to an active member administrator, CEO, COO or physician executive who has made outstanding contributions to Georgia's health care industry and/or GHA.

Small business
Like many college students in Athens, when Chris Torino attended the University of Georgia, he worked in a downtown restaurant. Torino earned his income at Rocky's Pizzeria, at the time owned by several partners, including George Matta who had also opened an Italian diner called Georgio's in Madison.

Brief cases
Downtown bar owner Chris Springfield, owner of The Winery, The Firehouse and Backdraft, has plans to open a sandwich shop on the east side of the county. Springfield said he and partner Scott Gibby hope Yazoos Deli at 2230 Barnett Shoals Road will be ready for business by the end of August or early September. Situated next to Mama Sid's, Yazoos will feature traditional deli-style sandwiches on fresh bread with high quality ingredients, Springfield said. Sandwiches will be made to order and customers can watch the order prepared as they walk along the counter. The business will focus on carryout and speed, Springfield said.

Biz permits
Permits issued in Athens-Clarke County for the week of July 19-23 as reported in The Hunt Letter.

Business briefs
The Society for Human Resource Management - Athens Area Chapter - will meet Tuesday, August 10th, at the Athens Holiday Inn at the corner of West Broad and South Hull streets.

Vandiver-Hayes
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Vandiver, Jr. announce the engagement of their daughter, Ann Elizabeth Vandiver (Lisa), to Robert Chad Hayes (Chad), son of Mrs. Jerri Hayes Edwards, and the late Mr. David Graham Hayes.

Gardner-Luhn
Dr. Amber Gardner and Dr. Parker Luhn were married at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 24, 2004, at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Georgia. The Rev-erend Boyd Lien officiated.

Cravens-Partridge
Mr. and Mrs. David Cravens, of Washington, Georgia, announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Jane Cravens, to James David Partridge, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Allen Partridge, Jr. of Evans, Georgia.

Loef-Rubenstein
At a recent party at Athens Country Club, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Loef of Athens, Georgia, announced the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Joy, to Daniel Alan Rubenstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roman Fisher of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The future bride is the granddaughter of Edith Sacks and the late Meyer Sacks of Atlanta, Georgia, and the late Harry and Sarah Loef of Athens, Georgia.

Family Dollar worker arrested in thefts
Snelling Bradley of Hull was charged with felony shoplifting at about 6 p.m. Thursday after a loss prevention officer for Family Dollar, 502 North Ave., discovered the 34-year-old employee had stolen merchandise valued at about $4,000 over the two preceding days, Athens-Clarke police said.

Man found beaten outside strip club
A Jefferson man was found bleeding in his truck in the parking lot of Chelsea's strip club early Saturday morning around 2:30 a.m., the alleged victim of a multi-person assault that left him with a deep gash to his head, a swollen and bruised face and several broken teeth.

Electronics taken in home burglary
A Gaines School Road residence was burglarized between 3 p.m. Tuesday and 3:30 p.m. Thursday and a television set, DVD player, jewelry, CDs, CD player, and a Pug dog with a total value of $1,030 were stolen, Athens-Clarke police said.

Drug raids lead to four arrests
Members of the Drug and Vice Unit executed a search warrant Thursday at 193 Sarsen Circle in Bogart, seizing a quantity of cocaine and making one arrest, Athens-Clarke police said.

Appliances taken from building site
Stoves and dishwashing machines with a total value of $2,200 and owned by Star Home Builders of Bethlehem were reported to have been stolen between 2 p.m. Wednesday and 1 p.m. Thursday from new homes under construction at Spring Valley Farms, Athens-Clarke police said.

Beep baseball a hit with both sighted, blind
A shortage of volunteers and cash has prevented Athens' Lobos from realizing its dream of going to this year's World Series of beep baseball, the international tournament of blind ballplayers from around the world held in Columbus, Ohio.

Gerson: All of us are counted in God's census
While we seldom might think about it, one of the most influential departments of government is the Bureau of the Census. Every 10 years, it not only counts the population, but, it also has a tremendous role in governmental funding and on voting districts as well. We should remember this when we are filling out those onerous forms.

Fall registration set for Piedmont-Athens
Area students who plan to attend the Piedmont College Athens Center this fall semester but have not yet applied are urged to contact the Office of Admissions as soon as possible.

Hipster-spotting
They spend their days lurking in corner coffeehouses, nights discovering new bands in obscure clubs and chances are, if you've spotted one, you've been left to feel about as hip as Joey Fatone.

Huckaby: Evans' moves reek of Adams
There is something rotten in the state of Georgia athletics. Yeah, I know Shakespeare said Denmark, but I never claimed to be Shakespeare. There is something rotten in the state of Georgia athletics, and it is leaving a distinct stench in the air.

Today in History
Today is Sunday, Aug. 1, the 214th day of 2004. There are 152 days left in the year.

Today in History
Today is Saturday, July 31, the 213th day of 2004. There are 153 days left in the year.

Exhibition planned for gymnastics day
The Classic City Gymnastics Academy, 1235 Cedar Shoals Drive, will celebrate the sixth annual National Gymnastics Day with an open house from noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Rich: In my life, they're sent by Satan
At a bridal luncheon, the guest of honor extolled us with an account of how she serendipitously met her intended. It was, indeed, a lovely story, the kind that renews hope in even the most cynical hearts.

Bulldogs begin at No. 4
College football coaches put Georgia in some elite company when the Bulldogs checked in ranked fourth in the nation in the USA Today/ESPN preseason coaches' poll that was released Friday.

Time changed for opener
Georgia's season-opening game against Georgia Southern on Sept. 4 has been moved to 3 p.m. and will be televised by Fox SportsNet South.

Coaches want more time with players
It was a rule designed to keep practices and film sessions from being held year-round, but college coaches like Florida's Ron Zook feel limiting offseason contact with players may not be such a good idea after all.

Chief needs surveillance cameras at his home
If this was April Fools Day, the article about Athens-Clarke Police Chief Jack Lumpkin would make more sense. That it is possible anybody could not notice for six months that their house was robbed is hard enough to believe.

Look to Islamic examples of mixing state, religion
Praise be to Phil Jackson for his recent letter (7/28) declaring "Church is free to teach biblical principles to the government," according to his interpretation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

A costly burden shackles counties
With prisons near capacity, county jails across Georgia are overflowing with inmates as state prisoners wait for beds to open up in state-run facilities.

Chief: Probe of gun loss 'thorough'
Athens-Clarke Police Chief Jack Lumpkin said Friday he was unable to discuss the loss of two guns from his home and their subsequent recovery, as the matter is in the hands of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to remove any perception of bias.

Georgia delegates work to pull support for Kerry
BOSTON - Fueled by four days of Democratic zeal, Georgia delegates headed home this weekend from their party's national convention aiming to translate partisan verve into presidential votes for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.

As classes loom, district busy preparing schools
Electrical wire and fire extinguishers, new shelves and whiteboards - they may not sound like typical new school supplies, but with classes set to begin next week, they're just as popular as pencils and paper.

Accusations stem from dog-fighting magazine
BELLE VERNON, Pa. - Two men, one from Jefferson, were charged earlier this week with promoting dog fighting by publishing a 10,000-circulation underground magazine that decreed "champions" in the illegal competitions.

White House sees record deficit this year
WASHINGTON - The White House projected Friday that this year's deficit will hit a record $445 billion, further fueling a campaign-season dispute over President Bush's handling of the economy.

Bush, Kerry take aim, hit the trail
SCRANTON, Pa. - President Bush and newly crowned Democratic standard-bearer John Kerry wasted no time blasting each other Friday at the official start of the general election campaign, trading identical criticisms that the other is short on accomplishments.

Justice recognizes 5 in Nuwaubian case
Five investigators and prosecutors involved in the child molestation case against Nuwaubian leader Dwight "Malachi" York have won "Attorney General's Awards for Distinguished Service" from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Jail diversion plan an issue of expense
Leaders from all aspects of county government say Athens-Clarke County needs a work-release center to alleviate overcrowding in the Clarke County Jail and keep non-violent offenders working, rather than sitting in a jail cell.

Security guard: Woman abducted near DFACs
A security officer told Athens-Clarke police that a woman was kidnapped by three men in front of the Department of Family and Children Services building, 284 North Ave., Friday around 1 p.m.

Smoke beginning to clear
The good old days are almost over for Athens smokers. In fact, they're already over in some Athens restaurants and bars, well in advance of Friday, the day Athens-Clarke County's smoking ban is scheduled to take full effect.

City hoping cameras provide Super security
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - A homeland security-funded network of surveillance cameras throughout downtown Jacksonville for Super Bowl security will help police keep an eye on the streets after the crowds have left.

Ten Commandments monument starts tour
DAYTON, Tenn. - The Ten Commandments monument banished from Alabama's state judicial building began a national tour on the back of a flatbed truck on Saturday - starting outside the courthouse where the teaching of evolution was put on trial almost 80 years ago.

SPLOST panel now to sell list
After a dozen long evenings hashing out the priorities for spending $122 million in Athens-Clarke sales tax dollars, the 2005 Citizen Advisory Committee has shifted to a new mission - selling the mammoth list of projects to voters.

State failing to protect citizens from industrial pollution
The Athens Banner-Herald has printed its opinion that I have been "one of the most vocal opponents of the Louisiana Pacific plant" located at the border of Clarke and Jackson counties. In the July 9 Banner-Herald, the newspaper also has assumed I am "satisfied" with the decisions of EPD and EPA to allow Louisiana Pacific the opportunity to belch out an additional 100 tons of toxic chemicals into our community. So, please excuse my attempt to clear the air.

Carabello: Heinz Kerry has timber to be First Lady
Last week's Democratic National Convention was John Kerry's chance to present himself to the American public. Details about his background, beliefs and vision permeated every speech which echoed through the bustling and technobunting-draped hall.

Winders: Taking a shot at truth about chief's guns
So, you get the feeling perhaps someone isn't telling us the whole story - that there's a piece missing; a fact or two ignored; a detail too quickly glossed over. Well, know you're not alone this week.

Baker: Finding American spirit at the flea market
When the four walls of my study start closing in on me, one of my favorite escape hatches is the J&J flea market. My son, Adam, likes to go with me, while the rest of our family gracefully bows out of the expedition. You're either born a flea marketer or not. I think there might be a gene for it.

Moon: American leaders, Bush should follow 9-11 Commission
President Bush has sometimes been chided by leftist critics for his use of the phrase "war on terrorism." Writer Gore Vidal said in 2002 the phrase is disingenuous, since terrorism is merely an "abstract noun," and so a war on terrorism "cannot be a war at all." Vidal contends declaring a war on terrorism was merely a convenient rhetorical device for allowing what he calls the "Cheney-Bush junta" to pursue their nefarious schemes for global domination, oil-profiteering, etc. A far more pedestrian, and plausible, explanation is Bush and other high-level politicians dare not identify our enemy by its true name, lest the Political Correctness thought police unleash their wrath.

Mears wins first career pole
LONG POND, Pa. - Casey Mears is ready to experience all the benefits of winning the pole at Pocono Raceway. He'll start racing in clean air with unobstructed view.

Wright shuts down Mets
ATLANTA - The attitude is no longer part of his repertoire. Neither is the 98 mph fastball that made him a World Series sensation in 1997.

Falcons defense gets overhaul
GREENVILLE, S.C. - After spending most of 2003 bottled up by opponents, Patrick Kerney just wants to have fun in the Atlanta Falcons' new defense.

Former Dog Keppinger traded to Mets
NEW YORK - Pitchers Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano were traded to the New York Mets on Friday, boosting a rotation that had relied all season on three aging starters.

Hampton, Braves nix New York
ATLANTA - When Mike Hampton starts a game by retiring the side in order, a feat he's managed just once in 20 starts this year, it's reasonable to believe good things will follow.

Georgia's Alleyne in top form in 100
Damian Alleyne can't wait to get to Athens, Greece. The freestyler from Barbados is not only heading into his second Olympics swimming better than he ever has, but he'll be reunited with his girlfriend there, as well.

Committee named for ag dean search
The University of Georgia has named a 23-member search committee to find a replacement for Gale Buchanan, who will step down as dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on Dec. 31.

UGA dorms overfilled
Dorm-room supply at the University of Georgia won't meet demand this fall semester - even with the addition of a 1,200-bed residence community and 700 fewer freshmen than last year.

UGA eyes purchase of YWCO site
The University of Georgia Real Estate Foundation is considering buying 19 acres on Research Drive, land now home to a nonprofit fitness and recreation facility.